Alexander squinted against the relentless sun, feeling sweat evaporate almost instantly from his skin. The horizon wavered in the distance, the promised oasis still little more than a smudge of green against the endless gold.

  "This isn't working," he announced, coming to a stop. The others halted behind him, their breathing bored. Riva leaned forward, hands on her knees, while Elijah wiped his forehead with a sleeve already damp with sweat.

  "We need a system," Alexander continued, surveying his team. "At this rate, we'll be completely drained before we reach the oasis."

  Lyra nodded, her eyes narrowed against the gre. She'd tied a strip of fabric across her forehead, and the dark hair that escaped stuck to her temples. "The sun's only going to get worse for the next few hours."

  "I've been thinking about a rotation," Alexander said. "One person leads for fifteen minutes while the others fall back to conserve energy. We can use the backpack for shade—hold it up like a canopy for whoever needs it most."

  "I can create a better shade structure," Lyra said, already digging in her inventory. "Give me five minutes."

  As Lyra worked, Alexander surveyed the shimmering ndscape. Floor 11 was nothing like the lush environments of the Green Realm. Here, survival would depend on adaptation.

  Lyra quickly fashioned a lightweight frame from spare equipment parts, stretching fabric across it to create a portable shade canopy.

  "It's not much, but it'll reduce direct exposure," she expined, demonstrating how it could be held above them while they walked. "We should also wrap any exposed skin."

  "Wrap it?" Riva asked skeptically. "Wouldn't that make us hotter?"

  "Counterintuitive, I know," Lyra replied. "But loose, light-colored fabric reflects heat and traps a yer of air that insutes better than bare skin." She pulled strips of fabric from her inventory and demonstrated a wrapping technique around her arm. "Like this. Breathable, but protective."

  Alexander nodded. "Good thinking. Everyone, follow Lyra's example."

  As they wrapped exposed skin and implemented the rotation system, Alexander noticed Valeria watching Lyra carefully before quietly adapting her own equipment in simir ways. She kept her distance but was clearly taking notes.

  By midday, the heat had become almost unbearable. The team moved slowly, conserving energy with each step. Alexander called a halt beneath the meager shadow of a rocky outcropping.

  "Water check," he ordered, and each member reported their supply.

  Riva's voice came out as a croak. "I'm... I think I'm running low faster than I should be."

  Elijah moved to her side, concern etched on his face. "Let me see." He examined her and frowned. "You're showing signs of dehydration. More severe than the rest of us."

  "But I've been drinking regurly," Riva protested weakly.

  "Some people lose water faster," Lyra said. "It's genetic. Plus, your combat style uses more energy than the rest of us." She turned to Elijah. "Can you help her?"

  Elijah hesitated. "My usual techniques aren't working the same way here. The heat changes how injuries and conditions present." He pced his hands on Riva's shoulders. "I need to adapt my approach."

  Alexander watched as Elijah closed his eyes, concentrating. His healing abilities had always been effective, but the desert environment presented new challenges.

  "Water loss isn't like a wound," Elijah muttered. "I can't just accelerate healing. We need to repce what's lost."

  "I can help with that," Lyra said. She knelt down, examining the base of the rock formation. "These small pnts don't grow without some moisture source."

  She began digging, her movements precise and economical. Six inches down, the sand darkened slightly.

  "There," she said with satisfaction. "Not much, but there's water here."

  She retrieved a cloth from her inventory and created an improvised filtration system, showing them how to extract and purify the minimal moisture from the sand.

  "It won't fill our canteens, but it can help in an emergency," she expined as they collected enough to help stabilize Riva.

  "I saw something moving over there," Riva said suddenly, pointing toward a dune to their left.

  Alexander squinted. "I don't see anything."

  "It was there," Riva insisted, her voice rising. "A huge shadow, moving beneath the sand."

  Elijah exchanged gnces with Alexander. "Heat hallucinations," he said quietly. "They're different from mirages. Mirages are predictable optical illusions. Hallucinations are created by our brains under stress."

  "Great," Alexander muttered. "One more thing to worry about."

  "We need a buddy system," Lyra suggested. "Each person watches another for signs of confusion or hallucination. If you see something unusual, confirm it with your partner before reacting."

  Alexander nodded. "Good idea. I'll watch Elijah, he'll watch Riva, Riva watches Valeria, Valeria watches Lyra, and Lyra watches me. Complete circle."

  As they continued their journey, they encountered a small group of desert scavenger NPCs who eyed them warily before sharing limited advice about traveling during cooler hours.

  "The sun is your enemy here," one weathered NPC told them. "Move at dawn and dusk. Bury yourself in sand during peak heat."

  Taking this advice, they adjusted their schedule, resting during the hottest part of the day and traveling as the sun dipped lower. Lyra demonstrated how to dig shallow trenches and lie in them, with sand providing insution against the worst of the heat.

  As evening approached, bringing blessed relief from the sun's intensity, Alexander gathered the team.

  "We're doing better," he observed. The oasis was visibly closer now. "Riva, how's your combat technique adaptation coming along?"

  Riva demonstrated a modified version of her usual fighting style. "I'm focusing on economy of movement. No wasted energy, no flourishes." Her movements were precise and minimal. "One strike, one purpose."

  "Smart," Alexander approved.

  "I've been working on something too," Elijah said. He showed them packets of herbs and minerals he'd prepared. "I can't create water, but I can improve our bodies' ability to retain it. These help maintain electrolyte bance."

  Lyra had been quietly observing some small desert creatures and how they moved across the sand. "Look at how they stay close to the ground during the day, minimizing their silhouette against the sun," she pointed out. "And how they move in short bursts rather than sustained efforts."

  Alexander nodded thoughtfully. "We should do the same. Short travel periods with defined rest intervals."

  As night fell, the temperature dropped dramatically, creating a new challenge. They huddled together, sharing body heat while keeping watch for nocturnal predators.

  "The desert teaches harsh lessons," Alexander said quietly, looking up at stars that seemed impossibly bright in the clear desert air. "But we're learning."

  Elijah nodded. "And we're adapting. Together."

  Lyra, sitting slightly apart from the group but close enough to benefit from shared warmth, allowed herself a small smile. The team was surviving their first real test in the Amber Realm, and tomorrow they would reach the oasis.

  In the darkness, none of them noticed Valeria quietly adjusting her own equipment, incorporating the techniques she'd observed throughout the day while maintaining her characteristic distance.